December?

It's December. I don't know where the year went! It's probably no secret that I have been working furiously this Autumn, actually all year.
Recently, I have decided to re-arrange and re-purpose my whole house in order to have a larger studio/ more room to work, until I can build a new studio.

As the end of this year nears, I can already see all the opportunities for next year- I have been contacted by many already requesting my attendance at their events or openings.
Articles and features are being discussed already as well.

The main challenge I have right now is trying to be productive, and yet, not overwhelmed.
Also, there is the constant struggle with self, and inside of the self about how best to express, how to be brutally honest- how to be most authentic, and, to do this with no thought of the outside world, or approval of some imaginary elitist art world.
HA!

In the art world, there are worlds within worlds, if this makes sense.
I have always darted and danced between them, mirroring my own life, and what I perceive to be the spiritual realm.
I quite honestly am accustomed to this, yet entirely sick to death of it.

This year moved me closer to living in a singularity than probably ever before. Yet, has brought so many opportunities that it threatens to keep me divided between which of the art worlds I am to pursue.
to put it more clearly- there are many opportunities, some unconventional, to share, show, and promote art that is considered 'outsider' or illustrative, commercial, or popular, or belonging to certain genres.
in this world, the rules are more relaxed, and artists following this path by creating art that might fit in this world are pretty much free to design their own careers. Not much emphasis is placed on your CV, or pedigree. rather, it is most often based on your ability to connect with your viewers and collectors.

Actually, It sounds great, huh?
Yes, I think so too.

sadly though, the other part or one other side of the art world, the 'traditional' or gallery system, high art, whatever else you want to call it- isn't the same at all.

Herein lies the rub.
I belong and work in both.

many of you know me for my spiritual, symbolic paintings, some approaching the genre, or term fantasy art. this is comfortable territory for me. it's fun- I make my own rules. you guys dig it.

this year I began taking the same approach for my contemporary gallery art as I have for my Goddess and fantasy art.
well, it just got me more attention.

I thought bucking the system, and working outside of the usual channels for that work would just kinda slow it all down. the opposite happened.
so- it hasn't made my decision -which world I need to devote my time to- any easier.

please don't think this is complaining in any way. certainly not, I am blessed, and grateful.
I am just sharing, as it has always been important for me to connect with my viewers, and patrons.
I've always had the need to express there is a life, and dreams, and a soul behind any of the images people see. I think it's important.

So, my life and career are once again at a crossroads-
this year, in order to rectify all of this duality, I have pressed to join both worlds together.
it seems to somehow be working.
it has it's growing pains.
So dear friends, this is the compilation of this year, and what I will be working thru in the coming year.
I think it's going to be a fun ride.

I am learning, as I shared on the fan page today, the more I just do what I want, design my own path career wise, the more attention I seem to be getting for it all, which is great, but often surprising and unintentional.
so, yes, I have learned a lot this year.
and am looking forward to the next.
it's been a crazy year for us all I think, and I have found connections,creativity, and spirit to be even more important in all of our lives.

I have been posting frequently on the fan page.
I know a lot of people use their blogs for that, but I am finding a different path works for me.
so feel free to join me over there. you can find links to my website, fan page, and twitter account here on the right.
hope to see you there!

feel free to comment about any of this, especially to let me know what YOU enjoy most that I create.
what's your favorite?
I deeply appreciate all of you who have shown such amazing support for my work this year- especially new friends, and fans.
A journey shared with friends, is always more fun- thanks for sharing mine!
xoxoxo
Jen

SO WHAT ABOUT PRINTS?! WE WANT TO BUY STUFF!
I know you guys are going to ask that, because you already do.
So here's the news on that:
I am postponing the Etsy shop. Sorry, I just dont have the time.
PRINTS? YES YES there will still be prints, just not thru Etsy.
I will post a link here, on the website, the fan page and twitter as soon as the first prints are available.
these will ship directly from the printer. Saving me time to paint more, and, hopefully, get out more to shows.
So if you want to see me out at more shows- buy lots of prints! HAHA just kidding.
there may even be a book coming this year. we'll see.
I think out of my artistic dilemma I was sharing with all of you- I am just going to thro out all the rules (since I have already) and just make whatever feeds my soul.
I never have, and still dont care about genre. this is someing that has been imposed upon me by others, and, you see what kind of BS it causes me internally.
So, Im going to let that go this coming year.
Whatever world wants to embrace, show, and promote my work can. whichever one that happens to be.
I'll go where Welcomed.
xoxoxo
love to you all!
J

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

the Blog is saved!

After much debate, at the advice of some wise friends, I have decided NOT to close this blog.

I was told it migh thelp those who dont use FB or twitter, to keep up with what I'm doing.

Ok, fair enough. HOWEVER- the blog does NOT get updated as often- or with as many photos, and intereaction and information the way the fan page does. so- I encourage anyone who reads this blog, to join me on the fan page, if it is up to date or insider info you are interested in.

Having said that, I'll do my best to keep everyone here, on the blog, informed. What can you expect here? well longer posts, sometimes really personal stuff that ISNT on the fan page, and cant be written in the 140- style of Twitter.

so, I guess it is important to keep.

so what IS actually happening?

just getting items ready for the shop. I know, by time it finally does open, you'll be bored of waiting, right? HA HA I hope not!

And, As many of you have witnessed, my career is metamorphing like a butterfly.

I'm going thru a very important transition phase, career wise, and it's tied to my personal growth, as well. to a degree.

It's pretty exciting.

here's some recently posted art, and personal pics. there is also a discussion about my funky artist hair. :)

People have a hard time understanding this, maybe because they see a young face looking at them- (and grey-silver hair is associated here with age) but I actually have silver hair, no, Im not joking. And I love to play with my hair. my expression extends into ALL aspects of my life, not just to the canvas...I also have grey eyes. hope that helps any curious parties.

So I supposed I 'look' the part of 'artist'? hate to disapoint, HA HA glad I can help remind everyone to have fun. If I inspire you to live more- and be afraid less-then that is awsome.

Live More- Fear Less.

don't worry about if anyone understands.

Getting ready for the Shop! and other stuff...

Well, It's Autumn, going into winter now...

I realised I had not written anything here since I posted Athena in progress last month!
I have been busy trying to get my Online Gift Shop open, unique items created, prints made, supplies ordered (a disaster, by the way), and somewhere in between there, sleep and eat, and come up with new expressions. oh, and keep up with the website, fan page, twitter, e mails, and several interviews.
It's been keeping me busy. (nah, really?!)
As usual, I am also considering how to join the different aspects of my internal creative person into my career. I hate the thought of having two seperate careers, and I dont have it in me to do that. let alone the time.
So, it's a pretty intense time for me right now, both the outward what everyone sees, and the personal, internal world of this artist.
I also, some of you might have notived, publicly went thru a name change.
Well, not really, I just took my maiden name back, legally, and decided to use this publicly.
A warning;
I may not have as much time for all of the social media all of you are used to seeing me on. It's already starting! A month for the blog! Twitter has fallen to the wayside as well!
Some things will just have to wait.
the art, and getting it to all of you is what really matters.
Next year promises to be amazing,(and is just around the corner) and I am, and have laid the ground-work for that this year, and right now.

I also feel the need to express something else here, in some sense, clarify.

Wisdom Path Art is a small fine art & gift company created to expand on my design and fine art ideas, creations, and potential. It's a way to bring art into the practical aspects of our lives. yes, It is commercial to some degree. but it is ALSO based on something heartfelt and personal.
It's ONE aspect, or facet, of me as a fine artist.
I also create contemporary art. Ie, more 'modern' and yes even abstract works, in my personal life, and 'other' career.
As a lot of you know, this is always like a war inside for me, and pulls me in two directions.
It can be awful at times. Artist DO go thru internal stuggles, as cliche as that may seem, it's one stereotype that's true , at least for some of us.
But- Now that I UNDERSTAND it, and realise it's ok to have different aspects to a creative career, it's getting easier.
I'm still working to incorperate the aspects into one- or, at least, to present ONE FACE to the world.
It's fun having different outlets. especially if you are prolific, you almost need it.
so, that's what's going on with me right now. If you'd like to see examples of art I have created you may not be familliar with, feel free to look thru older posts here on the blog. just scroll down to the bottom, and hit 'older entries'.
I have a pretty clear idea of what's to come in the new year, for Wisdom Path Art, anyway. For my development internally as an artist, only time will tell.

Something else I have been enjoying recently is creating cards to send to the members of SPIRIT JUMP organization. this is a wonderful small what I call 'people helpng people' org that you become a member of, and then send cards, or small gifts to lift the spirits of people battling cancer.
I feel like a kid at chistmas getting the cards made, writing letters, putting cheeful stickers on the envelopes, and sending them out, full of love.

Even though I am super busy, I enjoy doing this, and think it's really important to give of ourselves to eachother, this is why I do it. Also, I lost my own Mother to cnacer in 2005. It was her SECOND battle with cancer. loosing her was devestating to me, and I took several years off from my professional career afterwards.

I've always tried to be as open as possible with my audience, and collectors. basically my life is an open book. This isnt always easy, but, it's just part of me as an artist. Sometimes I am unsure wether or not to share or reveal certain things, But I enjoy connecting with my viewers as much as possible, and I have seen how sharing and being open has opened so many hearts, that it amazes me.
All too often now, we have been conditioned to soundbites, flashing ads, and an internet sized attention span where image is everything, often with nothing behind it, or of it's creators. well, I think a lot of us are sick of this, and I dont want to be a part of that.
I'm real, I face struggles, find joy, learn, share, grow...and I make art. that's me.

I'll try to post to the blog more often, as I can post much more here than I can on the fan page.
If you havent signed up for that yet, please join me there, i'd love to have you.
there's a link in the menu to the left.

In keeping with the subject of this post, I've decided to share some art not yet shown on Wisdom Path Art.com

thank you so much to everyone who writes me and supports my work. you have all touched my life, and made my journey as an artist, and person, more rich because of your friendships. I'm looking forward to sharing new art adventures with you, as I walk my Art Path, and try to live my truth. because that's really what it's all about, to me.

xoxoxo
Jennifer

New painting, Athena

hello everyone!

once again, I am limited on time. However I wanted to share the new painting I am working on with you.

I created a whole album showing the creation of this painting. She is an important painting, because she embodies all the NEW happening in my artwork.

Athena is, afterall, the Goddess of wisdom, And I have felt blessed lately for all of the breakthroughs I have been having. I will try, maybe this weekend, to sit down and write about everything.

until then, please join the fan page (link to the right) to view the album and more photos.

love to you all!

oxoxox

J